JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Department of Labor said Monday it is awaiting guidance from federal authorities on implementing new legislation signed by President Donald Trump that extended unemployment benefits.
The president on Sunday signed a $900 billion coronavirus relief bill that extends unemployment assistance programs through March 14. It also provides an extra $300 per week for those who are unemployed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
State labor officials said on the agency's Twitter account Monday they are required to wait for federal information on how to implement the legislation. The department encouraged unemployed Missourians to continue to file weekly claims.
State health officials on Monday confirmed 1,522 more coronavirus cases and four more deaths, bringing Missouri's totals since the pandemic began to 383,616 confirmed cases and 5,316 deaths.
However, the state's rolling seven day average of cases was 1,816, a drop from 2,415 on Sunday. The state's seven-day average peaked at 4,723 on Nov. 20 and has been declining since then.
The state also reported 2,429 people hospitalized with COVID-19, a decline from the 2,696 people hospitalized on Sunday.
